Improved trttnk-stay



waited getarnt @met @Wire Letters Patent No. 100,077, dated Febmwry 22,1870,

' IMPROVED TRUNK-STAY.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making parl: ofthe sama.

To all whomjt may concern:

Be itknown that I, EDWARD SEMPLE, of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful' Improvements in Trunk-Stays; and I -do hereby declare that the following is 'a'full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part' of this specification, and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in theart to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My invention relates to trunk-stays, and

It consists in a novel device, which, when the trunktop is raised up, operates automatically and locks it in that position.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a cross-section of a trunk having my stay applied; v

Figure 2 is\top plan view of the same; and

Figure 3 is a View of the lower end of the stay or brace.

In constructing my stay, I tirst provide the straight metal bar A,- having formed at one end an arm or elbow, B', and on the opposite edge from the arm a shoulder or notch, b', and also having at its opposite end a hole to receive the screw or pivot.

I next provide a guide or staple, D, of sucient size to freely admit the end of fthe bar A, and secure it to the inner side of the end o the body, as shown in figs. I and il.

'Ihrongh this staple I'pass the stay, and pivot its end to the trunk-top C, at such a point that when the top is upright, the .shoulder B' of the stay will abut against the staple, as shown in fjg. 1.

- It will be seen that when thus arranged, 'as the top C is raised, the stay A will be' drawn up through until the arm B' strikes and prevents the top from turning over back, and at the same time the shoulder b engaging over the staple, will prevent the top from lfalling or being thrown down accidentally.

'To releasethe top and allow it to be thrown down, it is only necessary to raise the lower end of the' stay suliicientl y to disengage its shoulder b' from the staple.

As the top C is turned down, the stay is shoved down inside of the body ont'of sight.

If desired a sheath, G, may be formed on the inside 'of the body to receive the stay when the top is-shnt, and to prevent. the stay from soiling or otherwise injuring the contents of the trunk.

For the purpose of locking the stay when the top is raised, I secure to thebody a sliding catch or bolt, F, which may enter a hole, h, in the stay, and thus prevent the accidental release of Athe stay.

My stay thus constructed is cheap, strong, and simple. It is automatic in operation, and answers the twofold purpose of locking the top up and of preventing it from falling backward, so as to break the hinges.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim isl 1. The trunk-stay consisting of the brace A, pivoted to the top O, and provided at its opposite end with the shoulder b and arm B,.in combination with the plate D, all constructed and arranged to operate as described.

2. Incombination with the brace A, provided with shoulder b' and arm B', 4and the plate D, the locking bolt or slide F, constructed and applied as set forth.

EDWARD SEMPLE. lVitnesses:

J. B. TURCHIN, G. A. MARIND. 

